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US citizen who killed 2 Pakistanis can not be handed over

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Feb 1, IRNA -- A court in Pakistan Tuesday barred the government from handing over an American citizen to the US, who killed two Pakistanis in the city of Lahore last week, court officials said.

Raymond Davis, an employee of the American Consulate in Lahore, shot dead two Pakistanis on Jan. 27, claiming that he had acted in self-defence. Another Pakistani was crushed to death by a US consulate car, when it arrived at the scene for Davis help.

The US is asking Pakistan to release its national as he 'enjoys diplomatic immunity'. But Pakistani leaders and investigators say that the case is in the court and it will decide it. They also say that the accused has not proved his diplomatic immunity.

Six petitions were filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC), seeking the court ruling to stop the federal government from handing over the accused to the U.S.

Chief Justice of the LHC, Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry, also barred the American accused from leaving Pakistan and ordered the government to put his on the Exit Control List.

The Chief Justice ruled that the federal government has no role in the case now as the case is in the court and it will decide about the status of the accused.

A representative of the Interior Ministry told the court that the accused has not provided any proofs to substantiate the claim of his diplomatic status.

The prosecutor told the court that the Foreign Ministry has not yet provided proofs about the diplomatic status despite a request from the Interior Ministry and that more time must be given to the Foreign Ministry.

The Chief Justice LHC adjourned the hearing for two weeks, asking the Foreign Ministry to provide details about the status of the accused.

The US is mounting pressure on Pakistan to release Mr Davis, insisting that he enjoys diplomatic status under the Geneva Convention. But Pakistani leaders and investigators say that the case is in the court and it will decide it. They also say that the accused has not proved his diplomatic immunity.

A visiting US congressional delegation Monday took up the issue of Mr Davis in meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari, Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.

President Zardari asked the United States to wait the court's order about the fate of an American national, presidential spokesman said.